About Global Forum

Introduction

The 4th Global Forum will build upon the work that was accomplished at the 1st Global
Forum in Bangkok in 2010, the 2nd in Geneva in 2013, and the 3rd also in Geneva in 2017.
The most recent Global Forum was attended by approximately 600 participants from over
100 Member States. These events function as the main opportunity to disseminate and
share information on medical devices for global health.

Health technologies are essential for a functioning health system. Recognizing this important
role of health technologies, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA 60.29 and
WHA 67.20. The resolution covers issues arising from the inappropriate deployment and use
of health technologies, and the need to establish priorities in the selection, regulation,
assessment and management of health technologies, specifically medical devices. By
adopting this resolution, delegations from Member States acknowledged the importance of
health technologies for achieving health-related development goals; urged expansion of
expertise in the field of health technologies, in particular medical devices; and requested that
the World Health Organization (WHO) take specific actions to support Member States.

The programme will include sessions on the following topics: best practices, challenges, new
tools and innovation, regulation, assessment, and management (procurement, technical
specifications, donations, maintenance and appropriate safe use) of medical devices. The
list of priority medical devices by health care facility, disease or clinical interventions will be
presented.

Objectives of the Forum

To define methods of increasing and measuring access to essential and priority
medical devices under Universal Health Coverage in compliance with the
Sustainable Development Goals

To share country evidence of best practices in regulating, assessment and
management of medical devices

To demonstrate development and use of innovative appropriate affordable
technologies to respond to global health priorities

To share WHO tools and guidelines on medical devices for better implementation

The forum is aimed to define methods of increasing access to priority medical devices under
Universal Health Coverage in compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals; to share
evidence of best practices in regulating, assessment and management of medical devices;
to demonstrate development and use of innovative appropriate affordable technologies to
respond to global health priorities; to share WHO tools and guidelines on medical devices for
better implementation and to present the outcomes of the implementation of the World
Health Assembly resolutions on medical devices and the EMP strategy for 2030.

India being a development and upcoming hub of medical devices is expecting an even larger
segment of participants than 3rd forum. Approx 1200 international and national delegates are
expected to participate in the upcoming forum.